Safety device for elevators.



No. 628,091. Patented July 4, |899.'

J. D. GRIFFEN. SAFETY DEVICE FOR ELEVATORS. (Application filed June 9, 1898.) (No Model.) 4 sheets-sheet 29@ l lig. Z. l? i jig. 2

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SAFETY DEVICE FOR ELEVATOBS.

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No Model.)

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Witnesses.

No. 628,090. A Patented July 4, |899.

J. n; GmFFEN.

SAFETY DEVICE FOB ELEVATORS.

(Application med June 9, 1898. (Nn Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3,

AttorneyJ me wams PETERS on. PHoTcLLrmo., wisnnsmw. n. c.

No. 628,090. lPaten'ced luly 4, |899.

J. D. GRIFFEN. Y

SAFETY DEVICE FOR ELEVATDRS.

(Application filed June 9, 1898A) (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

.Tor-1N D. GRIFFN, or NEW YORK, N. Y'.

SAFETY DEVIC FOR ELEVATORS.

SPECIFICATION-forming part of Letters Patent No. 628,090, dated July 4, 1 899. Application filed Jnne 9,1898. Serial No. 683,015. (No model.)

To all whmn t may concern: Y

- Be it known that I, JOHN D. GRIFEEN, a citizen ofthe United States,residing at New York,

` vised certain means fully set forth hereinafter and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhich- Y Figure 1 is a vertical section of part of an elevator apparatus suliicient to illustrate my improvement; Fig. 2, the same, showing the parts in diierent positions. Fig. 3 is an enlarged inverted plan view of the cage and gripper appliances. Fig. 4 is a side view of the parts shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detached View, enlarged, of the guides for the' safety cables or rods. Fig. 6 is a sectional View, enlarged, on the plane of the pin 19, Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a detached View, enlarged, of the safety-cables. Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation illustrating my invention in a modified form. Fig. 9 is a side elevation showing .the parts in a different position and appliances for raising the cross-bar and safety-cables. Fig. 10 is an elevation showing amodiiication.

The cage 'X, connected by cables or otherwise with any suitable actuatingengine, moves vertically in the well between guides and is provided with grppers A A, which are normally out of operation, but which when brought together will bite or clamp suspended rods or .cables 12 12 at opposite sides of the well and after a certain movement upon said cables will be brought in contact with stops 10 thereon, the said stops being opposite each other upon the opposite cables and secured,

thereto at distances of, say, from two to four feet, the closer arrangement being preferable in proportion as the normal speed of the cage is greater.

Itis intended that the gripperskshall be brought i nto action, preferably automatically, so that when caused to engage the cables and their stops the said cable shall be carried with the cage and shall be the means of imparting movement to a piston B, arranged within a cylinder C to compress the air below the piston and also, preferably, to cause a vacuum above the piston, which gradually retards, the movement of the cables and the cage thus connected therewith until such movement is finally arrested.

Various different connections may be made between the cables or rods 12 and the piston in the air-cylinder, and one, two, or more such pistons and cylinders may be employed, and the said cylinders may be arranged vertically at the top or the bottom of the well, or horizontally, the rods or cables being connected with the piston-rod when the cylinders are at the bottom of the well or horizontal through the medium of flexible connections.

In the construction and arrangementshown there is a single cylinder at the top of the well, and the piston-rod D, eXtendin g downward, is pivoted directly, as in Figs. 8 and 9, or through the medium of a link 13, Figs. 1 and 2, to a cross-bar E, from which the cables or rods 12 are suspended. Each cable is connected with the lower end of a rod 14, sliding through the end of the bar E, Figs. 8 and 9, or, preferably, through a suspended crank-bearing 15, Figs. 1, 2, and 7, having its trunnions in bearings 16 at the end of the cross-bar E, and a spring 17 is interposed between a nut or head 1S on the rod 14 and the crekilcbearing 15. By this means the first movement of the cables 12 results inra compression of the springs 17, thus avoiding the shock upon the bar E which would otherwise result and, further, permitting of a slight downward movement of the cables whenr the barE (as is preferable) is are wound in opposite directions and pass A over guide-pulleys 22 to the lower ends of the rods 14, wherebythe pulley 20 and its shaft are turned as the cables12 are Adrawn downward. On the shaft 19 is acam or eccentric wheel 23, the projecting portion of which en- IOO ters a notch in and rests upon a catch-bolt 24, projecting from a casing 25, secured to a crossbeam F. Aspring 26 intervenes between the head of the casing 25 and the head of the bolt 24. Normally when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 6 the cross-bar E rests upon the bolt 24 and is positively retained, so as not to be aiected by the movement of the car; but when the cables 12 are drawn downward the shaft 19 and its wheel 23 are turned until the projecting portion of the latter passes from the notch in the bolt. The latter will be drawn inward by the spring, and the cross-bar is thus unlocked after the car has begun its accelerated movement and can then descend, carrying with it the piston, compressing the air below the piston and expanding that above, whereby is secured both the compression and vacuum action in resisting the downward movement of the car.

To prevent lateral strains upon the outer end of the piston-rod, the latter may be connected to a cross-head G, sliding between guides 27, and this arrangement is peculiarly serviceable in cases where there is apt to be a lateral strain-as, for instance, when one of the grippers engages a stop upon one of the cables while the other from any cause does not. In such case the cross-bar E will take the inclined position shown in Fig. 2.

As the tilting of the bar E would tend to carry the upper ends of the cables or rods l2 toward each other,and thus brin gthem against the sides of the cage, I prevent this detrimental effect, while permitting a free travel, by the use of suitable yielding bearings J J. These may be of any suitable character. As shown, (see Fig. 5,) each consists of a number of rods 40, each carrying a roller 4l with a head 44, bearing on a spring 42 within a box 43, and each cable 12 passes back of the rollers 4l. Then the bar E swings to an angle, as shown in Fig. 2, (which must be after the descent of the car below the bearings J J,) the latter will yield slightly, but not to such an extent as to permit the cables below them to move materially out of line.

Inasmuch as it is difficult in the case of an elevator apparatus to secure absolute precision in the movements of the piston-rod, I provide for a certain amount of play for the latter by carrying it through a stufnng-box H, which instead of being fixed, as usual, is arranged so as to play radially in any direction in a casing 28 at the end of the cylinder.,

As there should not be any rebound after the piston is carried downward, I prevent this by providing for a limited escape of air from below the piston-as, for instance, by means of an adjustable valve 29, which is normally set so Athat while the air escape will not materially prevent the cushioning of the piston upon its rapid downward movement it will permit the air to escape to such an extent as to prevent a cushion for any length of time below the piston. In like manner a slight opening above the piston, controlled by a valve 29,will relieve the vacuum withoutinterfering with its retarding effect in stopping the cage.

Preferably I make use of self-acting valves, which open after the air has been compressed to a predetermined extent.

In order to prevent the swaying of the rods or cables 12, the latter may be provided with guide-arms 30, extending to and sliding upon vertical guides 3l, which may be rods or cables stretched taut between the I-beams of the building. These guide arms and rods may be arranged at any suitable intervals.

While, as before stated, the gri ppers may be of any suitable construction, a preferable construction is shown in Figs. 3 and 4, in which each gripper consists of a pair of pivoted arms 32 32, with toggle-links 33 connected to the ends, the two pair of toggle-links being connected by a connecting-rod 34. An arm 35 extends from the connecting-rod 34 and slides in a suitable bearing 36, between which and the shoulder 38 on the arm intervenes a spring 39, which tends to throw the arm in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 4, and thereby spread the toggles and cause the grippers to clamp the cables l2 and make contact with the stops thereof.

Normally the arm 35 is held retracted with the spring compressed and with the grippers open by means of alatch 50 engaging a shoulder 5l on the end of the arm or by any other suitable detent. This latch or detent may be operated by any suitable governor. For instance, it may be lifted by a lng 52 on a shaft 53, upon the end of which is a pulley 54, around which passes a cable extending to a governor and clamped by the latter when the cage attains an undue speed, as in the wellknown Otis governor, illustrated in Letters Patent No. 228,107, and not necessary to be here described.

Vith the cables 12 is combined a take-up device for taking up slack, preferably automatically. As shown in Fig. l, each cable passes to a drum on a shaft 7l, carryinga gear 72,with which meshes a geared sector 73, acted on by a spring 74, so as to turn the drum to the extent permitted by the slacking of the cable, but not beyond a limited extent when the cable is carried down by the action of the grippers.

Then the device is to be reset after operation, the piston B may be raised. This can be done by forcing air into the lower end of the cylinder by a pump, Fig. 2, or from the air-tank of the engine, or I may use a drum Q, Fig. 9, and cable 60, carrying a block Gl, with a hook 62 for connection with an eye 64 on the bar E. In such case the drum Q may be turned bya worm and wheel or otherwise. The drum is further serviceable in case it is necessary to elevate the bar E to bring it in position to make connection with the piston` rod D, as indicated in Fig. 9.

IOO

IIO

also be seen that these safety devices are posi-l tive in theircharacter and that the grippers could not possibly slide'upon the cables or rods 12 after gripping the same to any extent without coming into positive contact with one of the stops. It will be further evident that while the motion of the cage will'infallibly be arrested the arrest will not be attended with anydetrimental sudden shock, but will be gradual with increasing resistance until the cage is arrested, and that thereafter the pressure beneath and the vacuum above the piston will be such that there can be no .detrimental reaction. It will also be seen that-the piston is held positively in its upper position and that it is unlocked only after the rods or cables 12 have descended to a vcertain extent against the tension of the springs'17.

By use of two cables'or rods 12 12 the engagement of the grippers with the'cables will not strain the parts or throw the car out of balance or tilt it, as would be the case if a single cable was used, although a single cable maybe employed with some features of my invention in connection with small elevator apparatus.

While I have referred to the grippers as gripping the cables or rods 12, it isnot necessary that they shall exert any very powerful gripping effect, as it is best that they shall slide thereon, so as to make contact simultaneously with the stops at the opposite sides of the well, th-is being practicable, as there is little or no wear on the cables and their tensile strength remains unimpaired.

r are two cylinders, and each cable hangs directly from the piston of one of the cylinders. In this case each cable passes around two pulleys '70 7l. and has a weight 72 at the end, which maintains the cable taut.

Without limiting myself to theprecise construction shown, I claim- 1. The combination with an elevator-car, of a cylinder and piston, spring-supported cables, gri'ppers on the car for-engaging said cables, meanslfor holdingthe piston in its normal position, and means for releasing the piston to travel with the cables after a limited movement of the latter, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of an elevator-car, aircylinder, piston, and cables connected 4with the piston and arranged within the well, of stops upon the cables, and grippers upon the car for engaging the stops, substantially as set forth. Y

3. g The combination of an elevator-car, aircylinder and piston, two cables hanging within the well connected with the piston and with stops opposite each other upon the two cables, and-grippers on the car for engaging the stops, substantially as set forth.

. 4. The combination of an elevator-car, aircylinder, piston, cables connected with the piston, grippers on the car, and a pump and connections for elevating the piston, substantially as set forth. v

5. The combination of an elevator-car, aircylinder and piston, cables, and cable-grippers on the car, the cylinder closed at each `end with means for regulating the ow of air to and from the ends, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination of an elevator-car, cylinder, piston, cross-bar centrally connected to the piston, cables suspended from the ends of the cross-bar, and cable-grippers upon the car, substantially as set forth. Y

7. The combination with the car and cablegrippers, air-cylinder, piston and cross-bar connected with the piston, of cables suspended from the cross-bar and provided with stops `arranged opposite each other, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination with the car and cablegrippers, air-cylinder, piston and cross-bar connected with the piston, of cables bearing upon springs supported by the cross-bar, sub-A stantially as set forth.

9. The combination of the elevator-car, air'- I cylinder, piston, cross-bar, pivotally connected with the piston, and carrying crank-bearings, springs resting on the crank-bearings,

cables having bearings on the springs, and ca;-

ple-grippers on the car, substantially as 'set Orth.

10. The combination of an elevator-car, aircylinder, piston, and cables suspended from the piston and having a limited movement independent thereof, a locking device for holding the piston elevated, and means for shifting the locking device on the downward movement of the cables, substantially as set forth.

11,. The combination of the elevator-car, aircylinder, piston, cross-bar, cables supported and having a limited movement independent of the cross-bar, means for locking the crossbar in its elevated position, andmeans connected with the cables for shifting-the locking means on the downward movement of the cables, substantially as set forth.

12. The combination with the car, grippers, air-cylinder, piston, cross-bar E and cables suspended therefrom, of yielding bearings J, J, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. n

13. The combination with the car, grippers, air-cylinder, piston, and cables, of a take-up IIO device fox-taking up the cable slack, substan- In testimony whereof I have signed my tally as set forth. name to this specification in the presence of 1o 14. The combination with an elevator-car two subscribing Witnesses. provided with grippers of two air-c linders T T 5 provided with pistons, a cable connecBted with JOHB D' GRIFFEA' each piston and provided with stops for en- Witnesses: `raging with grippers, substantially as set H. M. TAYLOR,

forth. BLANCHE RAHILL. 

